Recent Violence in Tennessee and California
Dear LC Community,
It is with heavy hearts that we reach out to convey our deepest sorrow at the violence that continues to plague our country and which disproportionately affects members of marginalized communities. In Tennessee, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, a beloved son and father of one, was brutally and senselessly beaten to death by police earlier this month. In California, 18 members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community lost their lives to mass shooters in two separate incidents over the past week.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these victims—and the long list of other families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence. We know that each of these tragedies causes devastating heartbreak for the families and reverberates through our own neighborhoods, hometowns, local communities, and nation. And although we know steps have been taken to enact reforms, we continue to question if and when we will see changes that are sufficient to prevent such blatant disregard for human life.
Our thoughts are also with members of our own L&C community. We recognize that some may be experiencing individual or collective trauma, and that each of us has different needs for processing these incidents. Together, everyone in our community can play a role in contributing to a compassionate, caring, and intentional way forward.
On our campus, we have no tolerance for acts of violence—or messages that encourage or condone such acts. Here we continue to do the work of building a climate of respect, allyship, and support for every member of our community. We are doing that by demonstrating what it means to be there for others in times of need and by focusing on initiatives that grow a sense of belonging in the classroom, in student life, and in spaces throughout campus for students and employees.
We are also working to enhance our ability to listen to each other and engage in civil conversations through the Community Dialogues program. And we are offering professional development opportunities to learn more about how to support an inclusive and equitable campus, such as the upcoming Northwest Regional Equity Conference, February 22–24. (Reach out to the Office of Equity and Inclusion if you are interested in the conference, which is open to all faculty and staff; OEI can support a number of registrations.)
Collaboration with Campus Safety is another key component to providing a safe and supportive community and we are looking forward to advancing the work already underway and partnering with our new Campus Safety Director, Jay Weitman. An alumnus of L&C and a local resident who knows our community, Jay is committed to working with community members to understand the impact violence against BIPOC and other marginalized groups has on our collective wellbeing. He also has experience in anti-bias training and a background working with community organizations that are focused on antiracism.
Resources
We encourage students, faculty, and staff who are struggling with recent events to reach out to friends, family, and colleagues for support. If you feel you need greater assistance, please reach out to:
For Students
Support Meeting
For students who would like to process thoughts and feelings about these continued acts of violence, the Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement Office and the Office of Equity and Inclusion will be hosting a drop-in support circle on Monday, January 30 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the IME Suite. Come be in community as we reflect, discuss, and support each other.
To request an appointment, please email counsel@lclark.edu or call 503-768-7160 and provide your availability for appointments from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Urgent walk-in hours are 1–3 p.m., Monday throughFriday. Counseling Service is located on the first floor of the Student Center, in the former Campus Living office.
Oregon Attorney Assistance Program
This free, confidential counseling resource is available 24/7 for law school students.
Hilary Martin Himan, chaplain and director of spiritual life, is available for support. Feel free to contact her at spirituallife@lclark.edu or 503-768-7085. The Office of Spiritual Life is located in Agnes Flanagan Chapel.
Vice President for Student Life: Campus Hours
Dr. Evette Castillo Clark, vice president for student life and dean of students, hosts weekly campus hours in the Trail Room on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. Come by to talk and check in.
For Employees
Employees who need additional support may access counselors through the Employee Assistance Program by calling 1-800-433-2320.
Employees also can access support from Valerie White in the Ombuds Office at 503-768-7336 or ombuds@lclark.edu.
Keeping you and our community in our thoughts,
Dr. Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President
Dr. Danielle Torres, Dean of Equity and Inclusion
